Shane Thomas to be honored at Peace Officers Memorial Day event

Henderson County Sheriff's Office veteran died Dec. 28

Staff Reports

Published: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 10:56 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 10:56 a.m.

The N.C. Department of Justice will pay tribute to former Henderson County sheriff's deputy Randall "Shane" Thomas on Tuesday at the 2013 North Carolina Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony in Fayetteville.

Thomas died at Park Ridge Hospital on Dec. 28, more than three years after spinal cord injury suffered in an equestrian accident left him mostly paralyzed.

A narcotics officer and 19-year law enforcement veteran, Thomas was a volunteer member of the sheriff's Mounted Patrol. While training at Horse Shoe Farm in May 2009, the horse Thomas was riding reared and fell on top of him, breaking Thomas' neck.

Thomas also served as a volunteer firefighter, and police and fire honor guards accompanied his casket to Forest Lawn Memorial Park and saluted him at funeral services on Dec. 31.

Thomas is one of seven North Carolina law enforcement officers to be recognized at the ceremony in Fayetteville.

The annual Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony pays tribute to officers who have died in the line of duty. This year’s event will take place at Village Baptist Church at 906 S. McPherson Church Road in Fayetteville, according to a news release from the state Department of Justice.

Attorney General Roy Cooper will deliver welcoming remarks, and the featured guest speaker will be North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Samuel James “Jimmie” Ervin IV.

<p>The N.C. Department of Justice will pay tribute to former Henderson County sheriff's deputy Randall "Shane" Thomas on Tuesday at the 2013 North Carolina Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony in Fayetteville.</p><p>Thomas died at Park Ridge Hospital on Dec. 28, more than three years after spinal cord injury suffered in an equestrian accident left him mostly paralyzed.</p><p>A narcotics officer and 19-year law enforcement veteran, Thomas was a volunteer member of the sheriff's Mounted Patrol. While training at Horse Shoe Farm in May 2009, the horse Thomas was riding reared and fell on top of him, breaking Thomas' neck.</p><p>Thomas also served as a volunteer firefighter, and police and fire honor guards accompanied his casket to Forest Lawn Memorial Park and saluted him at funeral services on Dec. 31.</p><p>Thomas is one of seven North Carolina law enforcement officers to be recognized at the ceremony in Fayetteville.</p><p>The annual Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony pays tribute to officers who have died in the line of duty. This year's event will take place at Village Baptist Church at 906 S. McPherson Church Road in Fayetteville, according to a news release from the state Department of Justice.</p><p>Attorney General Roy Cooper will deliver welcoming remarks, and the featured guest speaker will be North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Samuel James “Jimmie” Ervin IV. </p><p>The other fallen officers being recognized are: </p><p>• Jeffrey Lynn "Jeff" Settle, North Carolina Department of Correction - Division of Community Corrections; </p><p>• William Wright, North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction; </p><p>• Dewayne Charles Hester, Bladen County Sheriff's Office; </p><p>• Jeremiah M. Goodson Jr., Lumberton Police Department; </p><p>• William Mast Jr., Watauga County Sheriff's Office; </p><p>• Bobby Gene Demuth Jr., North Carolina Highway Patrol.</p><p>For more information, visit http://ncdoj.gov/About-DOJ/Law-Enforcement-Training-and-Standards/Law-Enforcement-Liason/Peace-Officers-Memorial.aspx</p>